Drug defendant convicted of new felony on probation

A New Washington woman has been convicted of a felony after being under the terms of local community control sanctions for about five months.

Stevie N. Hawley, 27, of New Washington, is being held without bond until her June 9 hearing in Huron County Common Pleas Court. She stipulated Monday there was probable cause she violated her probation.

Huron County Assistant Prosecutor Daivia Kasper told Judge Jim Conway that Hawley has been convicted of a "new felony" since she was placed on local probation.

"She has only been on supervision since January of this year," Kasper added.

Hawley could face one year in prison on the probation violation.

On Jan. 16, she was placed on three years of probation for having medication to treat seizures or a panic disorder during a Nov. 27, 2012 Willard traffic stop. Authorities have said a Willard police officer stopped Hawley on the suspicion of driving under the influence and a search of the vehicle netted several pills, many of which were in prescription bottles.

Hawley's probation officer has the discretion of when to impose a 90-day jail sentence or can ask the judge to waive part or all of it if she was doing well. Hawley, who earlier spent four days in jail, must reimburse the Ohio Bureau of Investigation $35 to cover the cost of drug testing. Her driver's license was suspended for six months starting Jan 16.

In October, Hawley pleaded guilty to possessing clonazepam.

She earlier completed the program in a community-based corrections facility and the terms of her probation for a previous felony conviction. Defendants spend four to six months in a CBCF, a form of prison which focuses on substance abuse treatment and education.